The Summer Shakedown

I'm about to throw a lot at you. Are you ready?

Summer should be something like this:

 

In other words, the bomb. These bands brought it the hardest in Summer Ten.

DELOREAN (Bowery Ballroom, July 13)

Wait. The energy. Are you kidding? And the beat? It's correct.

THE GOLDEN FILTER (Glasslands, August 13)

Photo credit: Abigail Wilke

She may be possessed, but holy god is she hot. Add two drummers to the mix and...

Sorry. I just died.

ECLECTIC METHOD (Webster Hall, August 6)

  

Dude. If you don't know about EM, your time has come. They're an audio-visual remix duo who are freaking pros. Pretty sure they're the future.

CARIBOU (Glasslands, July 16)

 

Photo credit: Abigail Wilkes

Math wiz gets down, boy. Got that dancefloor movin to the 10th power.

Greetings From Greenpoint

Alright, I've been bad. Busy busy blah blah blah. Without further ado, I present:

The Greetings from Greenpoint mixtape.

I made it just for you. Get your hands on these songs. Then listen. Then dance.

Greetings from Greenpoint

1. The Books- A Cold Freezin' Night
2. tUnE YarDs- I Really Taught Me to Watusi
3. Major Lazer & La Roux- Colourless Artibella
4. Delorean- Deli
5. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs- Garden
6. Ellie Goulding- Starry Eyed (Monsieur Adi remix)
7. Body Language- Sandwiches
8. Cut Copy- Where I'm Going
9. Father Figures- Hot Tea Part 1
10. The Roots, Joanna Newsom & S.T.S.- Right On
11. Caribou- Jamelia
12. Peter Bjorn & John- Let's Call It Off (Drake cover)
13. BreakBot- Baby I'm Yours ft. Irfane
14. Fever Ray- Seven (The Twelves remix)
15. Clock Opera- A Piece of String
16. Au Revoir Simone- Only You Can Make You Happy (PUNCHES remix)
17. Kaskade ft. Dragonette- Fire in Your New Shoes
18. LCD Soundsystem- You Wanted a Hit

Not even a ?uestion.

Well, if you didn’t know, I’ll tell you. ?uestlove… is the man. THE man. The one and only. The make-your-booty-shake man. The shake-it-don’t-break-it man. No, wait. Break it.

He’s been DJing at Brooklyn Bowl for a few months now, but I just got my act together last Thursday to go see him spin.

First of all… is he not the man? The fro, the tweets, the Jimmy, the Roots? He’s the man. Oh… and did I mention that he just totally RULES the drums? My idol.

And the music? My god. New, old, funky, sassy… he played it. From Calvin Harris and Chromeo to “Detroit post-Prince and Prince himself” (via @questlove). I’m not really sure what Detroit post-Prince is, but I'll die if I can't get my hands on some soon.

It's not even a question. Just go already. He's doin' his thing every Thursday through July.

                                 ?uestlove stencil found outside Brooklyn Bowl.

Penguin Prison

Let me be frank: I’m coming from a place where '80s music is the rule. David Byrne, Sting, Bernard Summer—these are my gods. The cheese, the catch, the quirk? I love it. So it goes without saying that I dig how indie music is sounding a lot like '80s pop these days. Shake-it-hard staples like LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip, and Passion Pit have come crashing through the sound barrier, and the verdict is in: it’s cool to dance again.

Keeping the kids dancing like its 1982: NYC’s Penguin Prison. Holy hot pop this is good. Worth checking out are songs by Penguin Prison, remixes of Penguin Prison, and remixes by Penguin Prison. You can't go wrong. Unless you stand still.

Downloads:
Penguin Prison- A Funny Thing

Penguin Prison- The Worse It Gets (RAC remix)

Penguin Prison- The Worse It Gets (Starsmith remix)

Marina and the Diamonds- I Am Not a Robot (Penguin Prison remix)

Ellie Goulding- Starry Eyed (Penguin Prison remix ft. Theophilus London)

Ring a Ling

Last Friday I was on my way home from a night out when I remembered that Sleigh Bells were playing at Coco 66, an awesome little venue right around the corner from my apartment. It was almost 1 AM and I figured I'd missed the show, and was sure it had sold out anyway, but I went nonetheless. And what did I find? Sleigh Bells, in full, sticky-icky action with M.I.A.



You can't see M.I.A. in that clip (well, you can't see much of anything... apologies), but she came on with Sleigh Bells at the end of their show to play "Ring Ring," one of my favorites, which samples Funkadelic's lickalicious song "Can You Get to That":



Aaaanyway, Sleigh Bells rule,* and they want to share their treats with you.

*As a side note, they also win the award for best lyric of the year ("Wonder what your boyfriend thinks about your braces"). I'm not really sure why it's so good, but it IS.

She's Got It.

                                                                                                          Yukimi Nagano 

Okay, so, Coachella.

You already know. Gorillaz: unbelievable. Thom Yorke: life-changing. Muse: epic (what? I know). Shreds like you wouldn’t believe. Yadda yadda yadda.

But I gotta harp on one woman, because she is rocking my world…

Yukimi Nagano, lead singer of Little Dragon.

I’ve seen Little Dragon twice now (at Music Hall of Williamsburg on 3/25/10, and then at Coachella), and both shows were un-real. With the exception of a couple songs (mostly from their first CD), the emphasis is on dance. The band creates incredible improvised dance spaces by letting each song ride out and become more fleshed out than its recorded version, never letting it get too long before morphing into another.

Now for Yukimi. 

First of all, the lady can move. You can't take your eyes off her; all you can do is just try to understand how her body gets the music like that. She’s fresh and spunky and she bugs out. She's so into it-- there was a moment during both shows where she grabbed a pair of sticks and pounded on one of the drummer's cymbals (a move that Oliver from The xx also pulls, with less effect). Here's a video of a dance break during "Looking Glass" at Coachella.

And here’s a Yukimi mixtape, which really shows off her versatility. I love how her sound changes between the Little Dragon material and the earlier jazz stuff.

Your New Favorite Band: Berzerkulosis

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If you like gum, sock puppets, or slow-mo (or even if you don't... but why wouldn't you?), you'll love this video for "Big League Chew" by Brooklyn's hottest mock rap group*, Berzerkulosis.

Check out their other stuff too, which includes a song about fish that grow legs and crawl out of the ocean (AKA evolution).

You're welcome.


Berzerkulosis - "Big League Chew" from David Lombroso on Vimeo.

*Sorry Das Racist, but that Beastie Boys bullshit was whack.

Friday= Time to Get Mashed.

Coming from Cali, I've always waved the Tupac flag. Now that I live in Brooklyn, though, I gotta admit that I'm down with Biggie.

This mashup rules. Check out other stuff from wait what here.


juicy-r [the notorious b.i.g.'s juicy vs. the xx's vcr] - wait what (mashup) from wait what on Vimeo.

The xx at Webster Hall, 3/31

Watch: The xx at Webster Hall

Seeing The xx last week reminded me why I didn’t like concerts as a kid. The sound was way off; I didn’t even want to sing along it was so quiet. And I was standing in front, next to a tower of speakers. They sounded better in my room.

Overall the evening was just pretty snoozy. Nosaj Thing from LA opened with a great set, but was followed by boring jj. I really wanted to like jj—I find their music interesting and some of the songs catchy, and I really dig the whole Lil’ Wayne thing, but... blah! You can’t just stand on stage at Webster Hall singing softly and hiding behind your hair. Even if you are Swedish. Even if you are projecting a video of an Italian soccer match behind you (what is this, a sports bar?).

The xx’s stage presence was just as unimpressive. They seemed more confident than when I saw them in October, but not better. Romy doesn’t have to do much to please; her voice is captivating. There were cheers whenever it got to her part of the song, every time (and let’s be real—hers are the best parts). Oliver was less loved. His vocals were uninspired, which made it feel like he was just killing time until Romy came back on. Plus he kept waving his guitar around like a wannabe guitar hero. Jamie, the band's unsung hero, was the most impressive, running between drums and keys, making everything happen. But that was hardly a surprise— Jamie's responsible for some of the best remixes yet this year. He's got it worked.

I know that The xx’s music is subdued, but what makes it great is that each song really builds at the chorus. There was no build at Webster Hall. None at all. The whole performance was flat. And the worst part was, after a two-song encore (which the crowd didn't exactly demand), their version of Florence and the Machine’s “You Got the Love” began to play...... right as the lights went on and the band walked off the stage! It was background music, to leave to. I felt slapped.

Did I mention that no one danced? Maybe it's wrong of me to judge how good a show is by how many people dance. But isn't that what it's all about? Isn't there something wrong when you're at a show and you don't want to move?

3 Reasons You Will Fall in Love with Class Actress

Photo by Sarah Forbes Keough

1. THE MUSIC. Dreamy new wave synth pop, makes your heart melt like every day's a first date.

2. THE WOMAN. Body-rolling, sex-in-your-face, high-waisted hip swing lover.

3. THE SCENE. Kicked it with all the cool kids at SXSW.

Joanna Newsom- Have One on Me

Photo courtesy of Papermag                     

From "Easy," the album's first track, it's immediately obvious that Have One on Me is not like Joanna Newsom's other work; it's much easier on the ears. In other words, it's less weird.

 As the title suggests, Have One on Me is inviting-- it's Newsom's most accessible album yet. The added orchestration makes songs like "Good Intentions Paving Co." lush and catchy, while those with just harp or piano accompaniment ("Go Long," "Occident") remain simple (although simple is a relative term when it comes to Newsom) and charming. Her voice is sweeter, more refined. In general, things are a lot quieter than they were before. Prettier. Tamer.

 For some, this change will come as a betrayal. To the fans who revere Joanna for her off-the-beaten-track sound, Have One on Me may seem too processed, too easy. One review on iTunes likened listening to Newsom's last album, Ys, to "getting your milk straight from the cow. Ys was a nice fantasy package of the world in her head. This one just feels like pen to paper... nothing to wind around your finger." There is more thought on Have One on Me, for better or worse. It’s clearly carefully planned and more filtered, and at times there is a hesitation in Newsom's voice as if she's just become aware that she's performing for an audience.

 But while Have One on Me is a deviation from her previous material, the album is a triumph. Each song is remarkably beautiful and captivating in a unique way. The album shows true progress for Newsom as an artist, and promise for what we can expect from her in the future.

 Tonight NPR will be streaming Newsom’s concert live from Washington, D.C. Tune in here at 9 PM ET.

Thoughts on Joanna Newsom

Listen: Joanna Newsom - Emily

Until very recently, listening to Joanna Newsom made me uncomfortable. I found her weird, unnerving. In the past couple weeks, due to her upcoming three-disc album, Have One on Me, and sold-out Town Hall performance in March, there has been a surge of hype surrounding Newsom. It got hard to keep her on mute; a second listen was in order.

Upon reconsideration, I remain unnerved. But this time I’m floored, and I’ve listened to the 11 songs I have of hers on repeat for the past three hours.

There’s something utterly unleashed about Joanna. I can’t decide if her lyrics are nonsensical or brilliant (“I have read the right books/To interpret your looks/You were knocking me down/With the palm of your eye”), and the wandering rhythms of the songs are often completely erratic. She quickly flips from cooing like a girl playing with her dolls to a soulful, world-weary songstress. The comparison to Bjork is inevitable.

In the world of 2010 alternative music, Joanna strikes a unique chord. Her weapon of choice, the harp (of which she is a master), is not a common instrument in contemporary music. But her approach is also rare; she is unafraid, unrestricted, unorthodox. She ignores conventional sounds and song structures and just runs. This is why her music can at first be discomfiting. But, without question, this is also the reason for her success, her rapture.

Mash That

While Girl Talk didn’t invent the mash-up, he certainly brought it to the party. And since he did, they’ve been all the rage—particularly those that blend unlikely bedfellows hip-hop and indie rock. Here are a couple must-haves for any mash-heads.

The Hood Internet: A Chicago-based team of two (Aaron Brink & Steve Reidell) who take cutting-edge indie rock acts and mix it with hip-hop (underground or mainstream). All tracks are available for free at their website.

Rainy Dayz: AmpLive’s take on Radiohead’s In Rainbows, complete with appearances by Too $hort, Zion-I, Charli2na of Jurassic 5, and Del the Funky Homosapien. AmpLive is a master—even the songs without accompaniment shine. Album available for free at One Seven Seven Six.

Illinoize: Tor, a producer from Montreal, mixes Sufjan songs from several albums with hip-hop heavies like Brother Ali, Grand Puba, Gift of Gab of Blackalicious, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Big Daddy Kane, OutKast, DJ Premier, and Aesop Rock. Album available for free download here.

Girl Talk: Well, duh. As of today, Illegal Art is releasing all GT albums for pay-what-you-want.

Toasted Marshmallow Shake @ The Stand

Probably the best thing I've ever tasted. Yes, those are real toasted marshmallows on top. On top of the shake. A shake topped with toasted marshmallows. Shut up.

Surly September

What's in: All-caps band names.

What's out: Summer.

Wild Nothing- Virginian Jack Tatum. Sounds pretty rugged, right? Think again, my friend. "Cloudbursting," a Kate Bush cover, is gorgeous and haunting... just the right sound.

LAKE- Seven kiddoes from Olympia, Washington, one of whom is named Mark Morrison. Like, Mark "Return of the Mack" Morrison? Doubtful, from the sound of it. "Don't Give Up" is cheesy but sweet and wonderful.

HEALTH- This band is everywhere I look! (or... listen, I guess). LA-based guys with vague lyrics on top of lively, futuristic noise rock. The CFCF remix of "Before Tigers" is a serious detour from their sound, but in the best way possible.

GRUM: Their song "Heartbeats", especially when remixed by Memory Tapes, is just so CRAZY GOOD.

Washed Out: Lo-fi lovely. Fresh, dreamy, exciting sounds from some South Carolina dude.

Fanfarlo: British indie quintet who play interesting instruments like glock, mandolin, and (you guessed it) fanfarlophone. "I'm a Pilot" is quite good.

DVAS- Canadian crack!!!! Super synthy, riotously romantic. "Forever" is one of the best dance songs ev-er.

Aria Orion- An awesome Brooklyn group that features interesting projections, an accordion-playing-lady-turned-man (Geo Wyeth, who has a kickin' solo act called Novice Theory- check it), and a female singer with the world's most heartbreaking voice. "Augur" has all the elements, but "When I Wake" is the next level. Be careful, it destroys.

The Dead Weather at Terminal 5, NYC, 7/17/09

Meet the Dead Weather: Jack White of the White Stripes and the Raconteurs, Alison Mosshart of the Kills, Dean Fertita of the Queens of the Stone Age, and Jack Lawrence of the Raconteurs. White drums and Mosshart sings—that’s all you really need to know. Oh, and they’re dirty as hell.

I mean really dirty. The four band members slither on stage, black hair over their faces, ready to rock. They wear an aggressive amount of leather, and adorn their stage with a backdrop of what looks like a Death Eater from Harry Potter. In their encore, they cover Pentagram, AKA the originators of doom-metal, and they spew lyrics like “I like to grab you by the hair/And drag you to the devil.” It feels a little bit like being in the movie Blade.

The band’s Nashville origin explains much: dusty and raw, this is the kind of badass bluesy grunge rock that could only come from the South. When asked about the sound of his new band, White replies, “Perfect. Ferocious.” That about sums it up. But for all of us who revere Jack White, this is a bit of a change. He’s traded in his former candystriper colors for black and taken a seat at the drums—but certainly not a backseat. Throughout the show the crowd worshipped White’s every move; the minute he even looked at his guitar, the place exploded. But Mosshart isn’t one to be upstaged. She literally gets as close to the front of the stage as she can, at times climbing up onto the front amp, her lean body teetering over the crowd

After performing nearly every song off their album Horehound, the band finishes the set with “Will There Be Enough Water?,” or in other words, the Dead Weather does O Brother, Where Art Thou. White finally takes over on guitar, ready to shred, while Mosshart stands to the side, eyes glued to White as she sucks on her cigarette. This song brings the show’s best moment, when White and Mosshart sing lip to lip on either side of a single mic like a strung out Lady and the Tramp. Not only is it perfect and ferocious, but it’s also the sexiest thing anyone’s ever seen.

Moby- Wait for Me (Little Idiot/Mute)

“Gone are the lovely ladies from ‘Last Night’, replaced by the lonely little idiot,” declares Moby. In the wake of last summer’s club-worthy Last Night, Moby’s ninth studio record, Wait for Me, is startling in its sobriety. Moby’s intention in making Wait for Me is “to make something very personal, very melodic, very beautiful”; his success is no surprise. He is the Renaissance man of music, a master of sound for both the club and the bedroom (and by ‘bedroom’ I don’t just mean a sexy place). All in all, Wait for Me is beautifully crafted, full of gorgeous, heart-swelling melancholy, seeped with a vulnerability that his other albums lack.

Accompanying the sixteen-track album are two music videos: “Pale Horses,” a Sharpie-drawn cartoon by Moby, and “Shot in the Back of the Head,” courtesy of David Byrne. “Pale Horses” finds the ‘lonely little idiot,’ who appears to be just a little Moby alien, wandering friendless up to the moon, drawing into existence other little Moby aliens who melt when it rains. It’s like Harold and the Purple Crayon, but for adults. It’s really quite sad. If for no other reason, I recommend buying the album just to witness what Moby can do with a Sharpie.

This week's heavy hitters

The Phenomenal Handclap Band

The Phenomenal Handclap Band: Cute guys and gals from NYC with cool psychadelic love rock. Everyone sings so everyone wins, especially with two hottie-hot femmes at the front. Where do bands get girls who look like this (see also: Au Revoire Simone, the Plasticines, School of Seven Bells)? “Testimony” is great.

The xx: Four punky lookin’ Brits lay out subtly sexy but obviously cool songs like “Crystallised” and "Shelter.”

Cold Cave: Dark-wavey, 80’s industrial sound from Philly’s Wesley Eisold. Think Joy Division. Think black. Think good.

Air France: This summer's best music comes from two Swedish guys who make perfect pop. They’re the kind of songs that make you so happy you want to cry. See for yourself with “Collapsing at Your Doorstep” and “GBC Belongs to Us.”

Casiokids: The title of their blog (“Happyjokes”) says it all. These Norwegian popsters make catchy electro tunes with Norwegian names.

Remixarama

If you're reading this blog, you probably like music. And if you like music, you probably like remixes. And if you like remixes, you should visit HypeMachine. There are tons of cool songs that have been selected by the best music bloggers.

Also worth visiting is Muxtape. The site's not totally finished yet, but you can listen to some good up-and-coming artists.

ALL POINTS WEST

I'm checkin' out APW on Sunday, and can't wait. But why do all music festivals have to have all the greatest bands playing at the same time? How do you choose? It's a cruel joke to make me pick between Ghostland, MGMT and Coldplay. Thank God I can see Janeane Garofalo with no problems, though. I mean, that's why we're all going anyway. Jesus.